Camera-shutter.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

F. V. 65 K. B. GONLEY.

CAMERA SHUTTER. APPLICATION nun JULY 12, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 ATVa/Z/ea '2 L aegfops I I 7 Jhrw qys GSSQS I 1 g M' DLLQBb r UNIT D STATES Patented June 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK VICTOR CONLEY AND KERRY ELLSWORTH CONLEY, OF SPRINGVALLEY, MINNESOTA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,175, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed July 12, 1902.

To all whmn it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, FREDERICK VICTOR CoNLEY and KERRY ELLSWORTH CONLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Springvalley, in the county of Fillmore and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Camera-Shutter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to camera-shutters.

The object of the invention is in a ready, simple, cheap, thoroughly efficient, and practical manner and without necessity of change in the structural arrangement of cameras in use to obviate noise in opening and closing of the shutter-blades and any jarring or vibration of the plate with danger of spoilage thereof; furthermore, to provide novel means by which the supply of fluid for operating the shutters may be regulated at will.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is bet ter understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a camera-shutter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings- Figure l is a view in elevation of a camerashutter constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Theimprovements of the presentinvention, as above pointed out, have a twofold object in view, the first being to render the opening and closing of the shutter-blades noiseless and the second to obviate any jars or vibrations of the camera when the shutter-blades are manipulated, thereby to prevent spoilage of plates. A subsidiary object is toregulate the supply of air to the shutter-blade-operating means. In being photographed the expression on the face of the sitter is frequently $eria1 No. 115,302. (No model.)

spoiled by a strained or studied look, resulting from the impression that the picture is about to be taken, this being due to the fact that there is always more or less noise attending the opening and closing of the shutter-blades. Under the novel arrangement of the mechanism herein illustrated and described this objectionable feature is obviated in a simple, practical,and thoroughly feasible maunerand without objectionable expense.

The invention maybe briefly defined as c011- sisting of a pair of wings disposed in the path of travel of the shutter-blades and being of a construction to constitute aircushions, which perform the double function of noiselessly checking the outward opening of the shutterblades and also of absorbing jars or vibrations.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 designates the lens-board of an ordinary camera-box, having a circular orifice 2, back of which is seoureda plate 3, having a similar orifice 4, the inner face of the plate 3 being covered with felt or cloth 5, as usual, to effect a light-proof juncture with the shuttewblades 6, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction. The plate 3 has secured to it at its upper and lower edges strips or battens 7, near the terminals of which are journaled crankshafts 8 and 9, to which the shutter-blades 6 are secured in any preferredmanner. The lower end of each of the shafts is provided with a crank 10 and 11, respectively disposed in the same direction and being connected by a rod 12, in this instanceguided for horizontal movement by a pin 13, secured to the front plate 1. The crank-shaft 9 carries at its upper end a crank 14, to which is connected one end of a rod 15, the other end being suitably secured to a bulb 16, which by being inflated operates instantly to open the shutter-blades and upon deflation to close them. To assist in closing the shutter-blades and to hold them firmly shut, a coiled spring 17 is provided, one end of which is secured to the crank 14 and at its opposite end to the upper strip 7.

The bulb 16 is supported by a bracket 18, secured to the upper portion of the lens-board 1, and has connectedwith itin any preferred manner one end of a flexible tubing 19, the

ble bulb 20. the device compression and release 'of the bulb 20 will effect instantaneous opening and closing of the shutter-blades, and should it be desired to hold them open for purposes of time exposures it will only be necessary to keep the bulb compressed as long as may be necessary. For focusing purposes and in order that both hands of the operator may be;

free a cut-off 21 may be associated with the tube 19, said cut-off to be of the character ordinarily employed on fountain-syringes and which will operate in the well-understood mannerwhen its lever is moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to prevent contraction or deflation of the bulb 16, thereby holding the shutter-blades open.

In order to permit the requisite supply of air to the bulb 20, the tube 19 has associated.

with it a coupling or connecting joint 22, comprising two members having a threaded connection with each other, one member 23' being stationary and the other member 24: removable. By loosening the member 24: air will be supplied to the bulb 20 as required.

The principal part of the present invention resides in the employment of a pair of wings 25, which are secured to the sides of the plate 3, as by screws 26, and are disposed at such an angle with relation to the lens-board that when the shutters are fully opened they will be housed within the wings, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. These wings are constructed of any preferred metal and comprise each a back plate 2b", end plates 27, and edge plate 28, the end plates by preference being of right-angular form, thus to permit gradual resistance to the shutter-blades on closing, which would not result were they of rectangular form. The shutter-blades are designed to fit snugly within the wings, so that when forced backward by the air-pressure in the bulb 16 they will prevent escape of air between them and the wings withsufficient positiveness to cause the retained air to present a cushion for effecting the purposes designednamely, the obviating of noise and the absorbing of any jars or vibrations which would tend to shake the plate, and thus spoil the picture.

Devices for operating the blades of cameras such as that shown are Well known, and the constructionof the wings of the present invention is such that they may be applied to a lens-board already in use without requiring any change in its structural arrangement.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the device of the present invention is exceedingly simple of construction it will be. found thoroughly eiticient and durable in use for the purpose designed and may be constructed and applied toa camera at a slight expense.

Having thus fully described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a lens-board carrying shutter-blades, of pneumaticcushioning means disconnected from but operating to prevent noise and absorb jars and vibrations incident to the operation of the blades.

2. The combination with a lens-board carrying shutter-blades and means for opening and closing the same, of pneumatic cushioning devices disconnected from but operating to prevent noise and absorb jars and vibrations incident to the operation of the blades.

3. The combination with a lens-board and shutter-blades carried thereby, of pneumatic cushioning means disposed at an angle to the lens-board and disconnected from the blades.

4. The combination with a lens-board and shutter-blades carried thereby, of pneumatic cushioning means disposed to one side of and at an angle to the lens-board and disconnected from the blades.

5. The combination with a lens-board and shutter-blades carried thereby, ofa hollow wing disposed at one side of each of the blades.

6. The combination with a le ns-board and shutter-blades carried thereby, of pneumatic cushioning devices disposed at divergent angles to the lens-board.

7. The combination with a lens-board and shutter blades carried thereby, of hollow wings disposed at divergent angles to the. lens-board.

8. The combination with a lens-board, and a shutter-blade, of a hollow wing disposed to one side of the blade and at an angle to the lens-board.

9. The combination with a lens-board and a shutter-blade, of a hollow wing disposed on the front of the lens-board and disposed at an angle thereto.

10. The combination with a lens-board and shutter-blades carried thereby, of pneumatic cushioning devices disposed at divergent angles to the lens-board, pneumatically-operated shutter-blade-actuating mechanism, and

means for controlling the supply of air to the said mechanism.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK .VIOTOR CONLEY.

KERRY ELLSVVORTH OONLEY. Witnesses:

L. T. LOBDILL,

S. O. LOBDILL, Jr. 

